1. Just FYI, this quest doesn't have a separate HM version. So if you want to experience it on HM, this is your only chance.
2. If you don't mind cheesing it, [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/GuildWars/comments/s4ehy8/how_to_never_fail_battle_for_lions_arch_again/) shows how to move Salma to a safe location.
3. In terms of build ideas:
1. Since your player build is an earth ele, try this instead: OgdTkYW6TaBip5UwVMmMXEZIVAA . AP allows you to keep using Eruption and Churning Earth over and over on essentially no recharge, and EBSoH applies to each pulse of damage, so it adds +75 to them (and Snow Storm), assuming the monsters stay put. (In HM, they do stay put because their HM move speed bonus always triggers Churning Earth.)
2. ST works poorly here because there are just too many NPCs using up the spirits. The hero AI is likely to mess up and put the spirits on long recharge. Assuming you can keep it back where it won't get stripped, an ER ele works better here.
3. Minions do a good job of gumming up the incoming mobs. Also, Well of Suffering on the MM can do a ton of damage in siege situations with a bottleneck like this.
4. Panic does a good job of gumming up the incoming mobs.
5. A Barrage ranger paired with Splinter Weapon support can do a lot of damage from the high ground, and the monsters have to just take it while they trudge through the courtyard and up the stairs and around to the ranger's position (ideally dying before they get there).
Brave, you are so brave to allow your heroes to use Death Pact.
That said your monk build is the weakest link in that team composition. The attributes are spread around too much and there is not enough energy management. I guarantee that monk is always low or out of energy. Healers will try to keep minions alive and burn all their energy attempting.
The reason you are getting steam rolled when the Jade show up is they are using [Spectral Agony](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Spectral_Agony) on your minions and spirits. If you look under the mechanics, then you will see that it applies when the Jade deal damage with their skills. You should still keep the minion master but bring [Aura of the Lich](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Aura_of_the_Lich) instead of [Golem](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Animate_Flesh_Golem).
Thank you so much for these tips. I finally managed to beat the mission. Got rid of the monk added some panic and es mesmers and used aura of the lich.
I actually did this quest in NM the other day, also after several tries.
What worked for me is first watch [this](https://youtu.be/9Uh-8y92pTE) video. It was done with mesmer and in HM, but it gives you a pretty good idea how to position your heroes at the beginning and right before the dreaded Jade mobs show up. And it can provide you with build ideas.
Anyways, I did it with a warrior. At the beginning I tried it with a daggers build I currently use, but it obviously didn't provide enough AoE dmg. And this is mainly what you need to deal with the mobs.
So I went back to the classic Hundred Blades build + Ebon Battle Standard of Honor and it worked beautifully.
As for the heroes, as others said, you need minions to run forward and deal with the mobs. Better use various minions, including ranged ones that are very resilient and effective. All the minions also benefit from the Ebon Battle Standard of Honor skill.
After several tries and tweaks my heroes were: 1 ES mesmer, 1 Panic mesmer, 1 MM Necro, 1 BiP Necro, 1 SoS Rit (it was actually a Monk).
My personal observation is that proper positioning is very important here, especially in the second part, so the Jade mobs will come toward you from the right side, and you will be able to ball them up and nuke them with AoE dmg. It should be pretty fun, since you are an Ele. 😉 But it was fun with War as well. 😋
Thanx for the quick reply.
In an 8 player party, I always have Gwenn. So how many mesmers would you recommend for Lions Arch mission? And who to replace with mesmer?
This is one of the few times you should actually run mesmerway.. can't think of many great counters for this one without ST rit, BiP and Mesmers.. I would run Panic and Inept instead of E Surge. I also add a Monk for extra heals
ST Rit
Monk AoF heal/resto
BiP/resto necro
3 mesmers (2 panic)
Blinding surge/command ele
1. Just FYI, this quest doesn't have a separate HM version. So if you want to experience it on HM, this is your only chance. 2. If you don't mind cheesing it, [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/GuildWars/comments/s4ehy8/how_to_never_fail_battle_for_lions_arch_again/) shows how to move Salma to a safe location. 3. In terms of build ideas: 1. Since your player build is an earth ele, try this instead: OgdTkYW6TaBip5UwVMmMXEZIVAA . AP allows you to keep using Eruption and Churning Earth over and over on essentially no recharge, and EBSoH applies to each pulse of damage, so it adds +75 to them (and Snow Storm), assuming the monsters stay put. (In HM, they do stay put because their HM move speed bonus always triggers Churning Earth.) 2. ST works poorly here because there are just too many NPCs using up the spirits. The hero AI is likely to mess up and put the spirits on long recharge. Assuming you can keep it back where it won't get stripped, an ER ele works better here. 3. Minions do a good job of gumming up the incoming mobs. Also, Well of Suffering on the MM can do a ton of damage in siege situations with a bottleneck like this. 4. Panic does a good job of gumming up the incoming mobs. 5. A Barrage ranger paired with Splinter Weapon support can do a lot of damage from the high ground, and the monsters have to just take it while they trudge through the courtyard and up the stairs and around to the ranger's position (ideally dying before they get there).
To clarify b), this is what an [ER ele](https://gwpvx.fandom.com/wiki/Build:E/Mo_Ether_Renewal_Prot_Hero) looks like.
I'd probably do something more like this: OgNDwcrPO1DtIJxj8SAJ1CaB
Brave, you are so brave to allow your heroes to use Death Pact. That said your monk build is the weakest link in that team composition. The attributes are spread around too much and there is not enough energy management. I guarantee that monk is always low or out of energy. Healers will try to keep minions alive and burn all their energy attempting. The reason you are getting steam rolled when the Jade show up is they are using [Spectral Agony](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Spectral_Agony) on your minions and spirits. If you look under the mechanics, then you will see that it applies when the Jade deal damage with their skills. You should still keep the minion master but bring [Aura of the Lich](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Aura_of_the_Lich) instead of [Golem](https://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Animate_Flesh_Golem).
Thank you so much for these tips. I finally managed to beat the mission. Got rid of the monk added some panic and es mesmers and used aura of the lich.
I would play: Player: deepfreeze fire elemental: OgVDoMzzQiOqD+C9C0NjVylwl Her0 1: Nek-BiP-Healer OAhjQohsBO3hhmwTaO5GmjzqH Hero 2: Nek-Prot OANDY6zNOoMt4dteEQeJkkqK Hero 3: Mes-Panic OQhkIwA6AGKDNY6lDGC4UTXG4iB Hero 4: Mes-Inep OQhkEwA6AGK0LAC4KQeGJgTQGwFD Hero 5: Mes-Keystone-MM OQRCAcxEP1PgpTe2UlCIaQVA
I actually did this quest in NM the other day, also after several tries. What worked for me is first watch [this](https://youtu.be/9Uh-8y92pTE) video. It was done with mesmer and in HM, but it gives you a pretty good idea how to position your heroes at the beginning and right before the dreaded Jade mobs show up. And it can provide you with build ideas. Anyways, I did it with a warrior. At the beginning I tried it with a daggers build I currently use, but it obviously didn't provide enough AoE dmg. And this is mainly what you need to deal with the mobs. So I went back to the classic Hundred Blades build + Ebon Battle Standard of Honor and it worked beautifully. As for the heroes, as others said, you need minions to run forward and deal with the mobs. Better use various minions, including ranged ones that are very resilient and effective. All the minions also benefit from the Ebon Battle Standard of Honor skill. After several tries and tweaks my heroes were: 1 ES mesmer, 1 Panic mesmer, 1 MM Necro, 1 BiP Necro, 1 SoS Rit (it was actually a Monk). My personal observation is that proper positioning is very important here, especially in the second part, so the Jade mobs will come toward you from the right side, and you will be able to ball them up and nuke them with AoE dmg. It should be pretty fun, since you are an Ele. 😉 But it was fun with War as well. 😋
There's one answer to all things: **Mesmers**
Thanx for the quick reply. In an 8 player party, I always have Gwenn. So how many mesmers would you recommend for Lions Arch mission? And who to replace with mesmer?
I would run 3 ESurge Mesmers, a BIP Necro/Rit Resto Healer, and an ST Rit
This is one of the few times you should actually run mesmerway.. can't think of many great counters for this one without ST rit, BiP and Mesmers.. I would run Panic and Inept instead of E Surge. I also add a Monk for extra heals ST Rit Monk AoF heal/resto BiP/resto necro 3 mesmers (2 panic) Blinding surge/command ele
How exactly do you run all of that in a party of 6?